Hollywood in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Tobacco's Impact

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 6, 2013

1. Tobacco's Impact Marker

Inscription. Tobacco farming dramatically changed Southern Maryland's natural environment by depleting the rich soils of nutrients. In the 18th and 19th centuries, farmers rotated fields, introduced fertilizers and guano (bat dung), and employed deeper plowing methods to maintain production levels. All these activities taxed the environment.

The laborious, 14 month farming cycle impacted the social and racial landscapes, as well. Beginning in the late 17th century plantation owners turned to African slaves to work the "the money crop." Transported across the Atlantic Ocean in deplorable conditions, these slaves were housed in spartan "cabins" here in the colonies. Sotterley's lone surviving slave cabin dates from c. 1850.

Erected by Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 38° 22.554′ N, 76° 32.406′ W. Marker is in Hollywood, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker can be reached from Sotterley Lane. The marker is on Sotterley Plantation along the rolling road, south of the main house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood MD 20636, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

, measured as the crow flies. Sotterley's Remaining Slave Cabin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); War Hits Home (about 400 feet away); Remembering Ancestors at the Sotterley Plantation (about 600 feet away); Port of Entry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rosedale (approx. 1.1 miles away); A Place in Chesapeake History (approx. 2 miles away); June 1814 — War Visits the Patuxent (approx. 2 miles away); Idyllic Retreat — Beach House on the Point (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hollywood.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 6, 2013

2. Tobacco's Impact Marker

Rolling Hogheads on the Rolling Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 6, 2013

3. Rolling Hogheads on the Rolling Road

Hogsheads (barrels) were packed using a "prize" - a contraption that compressed the tobacco leaves.

Slave Cabins image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 6, 2013

4. Slave Cabins

A row of slave cabins were built along the "rolling road" - a pathway for rolling hogsheads from tobacco barns to Sotterley Creek.

An ox-cart on the rolling road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 6, 2013

5. An ox-cart on the rolling road

The remaining slave cabin at Sotterley image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 6, 2013

6. The remaining slave cabin at Sotterley

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 434 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 14, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.